LONDON (AP) — Andy Burnham was officially declared leader of Britain’s governing Labour Party on Friday, promising to bring hope to the British people and purpose to the floundering government as he cleared his final hurdle to take office as prime minister next week.

The former mayor of Greater Manchester, nicknamed the “King of the North,” was the only contender in the center-left party’s leadership contest to replace departing Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who was forced out by a Labour rebellion amid sinking approval ratings and scandal.

Friday’s announcement was a forgone conclusion after Burnham secured nominations from 379 of the 403 Labour lawmakers in the House of Commons.

“We’re going to give them hope back,” Burnham told an audience of lawmakers, party activists and trade union leaders in his first speech as leader. “This is a proud moment you have given me and my family today, and an emotional one, but it is one for which I am ready.”

“I have a plan,” he added, in a bid to reassure a party that has seen its popularity nosedive since winning a landslide election victory two years ago.

Burnham has been prime minister-in-waiting for weeks, since winning a special election for a seat in Parliament a month ago, but he has revealed little detail about his policy priorities. He will arrive in Number 10 Downing Street largely unknown to voters outside Manchester.

Last week, he urged “more pressure” on Israel, including considering further sanctions and restricting arms sales, citing apparent war crimes in the Gaza war that followed the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attack. Burnham also said that his party erred in its initial response to the war, saying, “My party didn’t get it right and I am sorry about that.”

Britain’s Board of Deputies and Jewish Leadership Council expressed “significant........

© The Times of Israel